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DECREE

October 23, 2012, on information and journalistic activities of the foreign press, foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations in Vietnam

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Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the December 28, 1989 Press Law and the June 12, 1999 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Press Law;

Pursuant to the December 3, 2004 Publication Law and the June 3, 2008 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Publication Law;

Pursuant to the June 29, 2006 Cinematography Law and the June 18, 2009 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Cinematography Law;

Pursuant to the April 28, 2000 Ordinance on Foreigners’ Entry, Exit and Residence in Vietnam;

Pursuant to the August 23, 1993 Ordinance on Privileges and Immunities for Diplomatic Missions, Consular Offices and Representative Agencies of International Organizations in Vietnam;

At the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs;

The Government promulgates the Decree on information and journalistic activities of the foreign press, foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations in Vietnam.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation and subjects of application

This Decree provides information and journalistic activities of the foreign press, foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations in Vietnam and responsibilities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and provincial-level People’s Committees for the state management of information and journalistic activities of the foreign press, foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations in Vietnam.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In this Decree, the terms below are construed as follows:

1. Foreign press includes foreign news, radio and television agencies, printed newspapers and e-newspapers and other types of foreign press.

2. Resident foreign press office means a Vietnam-based representative office of a foreign press, below referred to as resident office.

3. Foreign reporter means a reporter or an editor working for a foreign press.

4. Resident foreign reporter means a foreign reporter assigned by a foreign press to work at its resident office under the regime for resident reporters in Vietnam, below referred to as resident reporter.

5. Non-resident foreign reporter means a foreign reporter who enters Vietnam for short-term information and journalistic activities and is not entitled to the resident reporter regime, below referred to as non-resident reporter.

6. Press assistant means a Vietnamese citizen who works for a resident office under an official contract to assist resident reporters and the resident office in information and journalistic activities in Vietnam.

7. Collaborator means a Vietnamese citizen or a foreigner lawfully residing and working in Vietnam who is recruited by a resident office to support specific information and journalistic activities of resident reporters and the resident office for a certain period.

8. Foreign representative agency means a diplomatic mission, a consular office, a representative office of an intergovernmental organization or another foreign agency authorized to perform the consular function in Vietnam.

9. Foreign organization means the representative office of a non-governmental organization or another foreign organization in Vietnam.

10. Information and journalistic activities of the foreign press in Vietnam cover the gathering of information, materials and images, audio and visual recording, photography, filming, contact, interview and visit to localities and establishments, and other activities to serve the news and article writing, production of supplements, special issues and reportages about Vietnam by the foreign press, except types of films governed by the Cinematography Law.

11. Foreign information publications include bulletins, press releases, supplements, documents, leaflets, brochures, maps, calendars, paintings, photos, audio tapes and discs, video tapes and discs and other information publications published and circulated in Vietnam by Vietnam-based foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations.

12. Press conference means a meeting or get-together held in Vietnam by a foreign agency, organization, delegation or individual to which representatives of Vietnamese press agencies and citizens are invited for notification, announcement or statement of or explanation about a certain matter under its/his/her competence and related to its/his/her duties and interests.

Article 3. Principles of information and journalistic activities of the foreign press, foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations in Vietnam

1. All information and journalistic activities of the foreign press, foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations in Vietnam may be carried out only after they are approved by competent agencies provided in this Decree and must comply with the current provisions of Vietnamese law.

2. Violations of this Decree shall be handled in accordance with the current provisions of Vietnamese law.

Chapter II

INFORMATION AND JOURNALISTIC ACTIVITIES OF THE FOREIGN PRESS IN VIETNAM

Section 1

NON-RESIDENT REPORTERS

Article 4. Procedures for licensing information and journalistic activities of non-resident reporters

1. A foreign reporter wishing to carry out information and journalistic activities in Vietnam shall submit a dossier of request directly, by post, or via fax or email to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an overseas Vietnamese diplomatic mission or consular office or another overseas Vietnamese agency authorized to perform the consular function (below referred to as overseas Vietnamese representative agency) at least 10 working days before the expected date of entering Vietnam.

Such a dossier comprises:

a/ A written request for information and journalistic activities in Vietnam, made according a form provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

b/ A photocopy of the foreign reporter’s passport.

2. Within 10 working after receiving a written request, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an overseas Vietnamese representative agency shall issue a written approval or disapproval to a foreign reporter. In case of approval, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall grant a press activity permit to the foreign reporter.

3. After entering Vietnam, a foreign reporter shall receive his/her press activity permit as well as press activity guidance at the reporter guide agency (the Foreign Press Center under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) or another agency approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Article 5. Information and journalistic activities of non-resident reporters

1. When carrying out information and journalistic activities in Vietnam, non-resident reporters shall bring along their passports and press activity permits granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and operate according to the purposes and program stated in their permits and the guidance of the reporter guide agency.

2. The activity program of a non-resident reporter may be adjusted and supplemented after being permitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Article 6. Foreign reporters accompanying foreign delegations

1. For foreign reporters who accompany foreign delegations on visit to Vietnam at the invitation of leaders of the Party or the State or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to report on such visit, the Vietnamese agency in charge shall carry out necessary immigration procedures and notify such to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coordination. Foreign reporters may report on activities of foreign delegations under the official programs.

A foreign reporter wishing to carry out information and journalistic activities outside the official working program of the foreign delegation shall send a written request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and must comply with Articles 4 and 5 of this Decree like non-resident reporters.

2. For foreign reporters who accompany foreign delegations on visit at the invitation of other Vietnamese agencies to report on such visit, the Vietnamese agency in charge should carry out procedures as for non-resident reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the reporters shall operate under the guidance of the Foreign Press Center (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) or another agency approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Section 2

RESIDENT OFFICES, RESIDENT REPORTERS

Article 7. Procedures for establishing resident offices

1. A foreign press agency wishing to establish a resident office shall send a dossier of request directly or by post to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an overseas Vietnamese representative agency.

A dossier of request for establishment of a resident office comprises:

a/ A written request made by the head of the foreign press agency or a person authorized by this head according to a form provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

b/ A photocopy of the legal status certificate of the foreign press agency, which has been legalized, except cases exempt from legalization under a treaty to which Vietnam and the involved country are contracting parties or according to the reciprocity principle.

c/ Basic information on the foreign press agency.

2. In case of approval, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall grant a resident office establishment license to the foreign press agency within 60 days after receiving a complete and valid dossier.

Article 8. Procedures for assignment of resident reporters

1. A foreign press agency wishing to assign a resident reporter shall send a dossier of request directly or by post to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an overseas Vietnamese representative agency.

A dossier of request for assignment of a resident reporter comprises:

a/ A written request for assignment of a resident reporter made by the head of the foreign press agency or a person authorized by this head according to a form provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

b/ Personal information of the assigned resident reporter.

c/ A photocopy of the passport of the assigned resident reporter.

d/ If the assigned resident reporter is the spouse of a member of a foreign representative agency and is entitled to diplomatic and consular privileges and immunities, that foreign representative agency shall make a written commitment to renounce the privileges and immunities from the time that person is accepted to be a resident reporter.

2. Within 15 working days after receiving a complete and valid dossier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an overseas Vietnamese representative agency shall issue a notice of approval or disapproval of a resident reporter assigned by a foreign press agency.

3. In case a visa is required, the foreign reporter shall complete the entry visa application procedures at the overseas Vietnamese representative agency after being approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be a resident reporter.

Article 9. Operation of resident offices

1. Within 30 working days after receiving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s written approval, a resident reporter of a resident office shall present a letter of assignment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and receive the resident office establishment license granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2. The chief of a resident office is the lawful representative of that office.

3. A resident office may be headquartered in Hanoi or another province or centrally run city after obtaining written approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the provincial-level People’s Committee of the locality in which the resident office will be based.

A resident office may assign resident reporters to a locality other than the one in which it is based after obtaining approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the provincial-level People’s Committee of the locality in which the resident reporter will operate. A resident office shall take responsibility for activities of its resident reporters in other localities.

A foreign press agency wishing to assign resident reporters to other localities in Vietnam shall send a dossier of request directly or by post to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The dossier is similar the dossier of request for assignment of a resident reporter to work at a resident office provided in Clause 1, Article 8 of this Decree.

After receiving a dossier of request for assignment of a resident reporter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall consult in writing the provincial-level People’s Committee of the locality to which the resident office will assign the resident reporter. Within 15 working days after receiving a written request, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall issue a written reply to the foreign press agency.

4. A resident office shall notify its address to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 30 days before officially operating at such address. When changing its location, a resident office shall notify such to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at least 30 working days in advance.

5. A resident office wishing to make its seal; or applying for certificates of temporary residence or travel or having other requests for information and journalistic activities in Vietnam should send a written request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for introducing it to competent Vietnamese functional agencies to carry out necessary procedures under the current provisions of Vietnamese law.

6. A resident office establishment license automatically becomes invalid when the resident office has no resident reporter operating in Vietnam for 180 consecutive days.

7. A resident office shall notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of its closure at least 30 working days before such closure and return its license to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at least 3 working days before the date of its closure.

8. When wishing to replace and add its resident reporters, a resident office shall fully carry out necessary procedures provided in Article 8 of this Decree.

9. When wishing to assign reporters to support a resident office, the resident office chief shall make a written request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as provided in Articles 4 and 5 of this Decree for non-resident reporters. Supporting reporters are not entitled to the resident reporter regime.

10. The parent, spouse, child or another relative of a resident reporter is not entitled to the resident reporter regime and must comply with all current provisions of Vietnamese law.

Article 10. Entry visa for resident reporters

The grant, disapproval of grant or cancellation of visa for resident reporters complies with Vietnamese law on entry, exit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam. A resident reporter may obtain new visa when being permitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue enjoying the resident reporter regime.

Article 11. Part-time resident reporters

1. A resident reporter may concurrently work as a part-time resident reporter for the resident office of another foreign press agency in Vietnam. A foreign press agency may assign its resident reporter in another country to concurrently work as a part-time resident reporter in Vietnam.

2. Resident reporters working on a part-time basis are subject to regulations applicable to resident reporters. In case a resident reporter is proposed to concurrently work as a part-time resident reporter for the resident office of another foreign press agency, his/her press agency’s written approval is required.

Article 12. Foreign reporter cards

1. A resident reporter shall be issued a foreign reporter card by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is valid for up to 12 months, matching his/her visa validity. A resident reporter applying for a foreign reporter card shall send a dossier directly or by post to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A dossier of application for a foreign reporter card comprises:

a/ An application for a foreign reporter card made by the resident reporter according to a form provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

b/ A photocopy of the resident reporter’s passport.

c/ Two 3cm x 4cm photos of the resident reporter.

2. A resident reporter whose reporter card is lost or damaged shall send directly or by post a dossier of request for re-grant of the card to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Such a dossier comprises:

a/ A written request for re-grant of a foreign reporter card, made according to a form provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

b/ A photocopy of the resident reporter’s passport.

c/ Two 3cm x 4cm photos of the resident reporter.

d/ The foreign reporter card (in case the card is damaged).

e/ A report on the loss of the foreign reporter card certified by a police office (in case the card is lost).

3. Within 15 working days after his/her foreign reporter card expires, a resident reporter shall carry out card extension procedures if he/she is permitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue working as a resident reporter. A resident reporter wishing to extend his/her reporter card shall send a card extension request dossier directly or by post to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Such a dossier comprises:

a/ A notice of the continued assignment of the resident reporter in Vietnam made by a competent person of the foreign press agency according to a form provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

b/ The foreign reporter card of the resident reporter.

c/ A photocopy of the resident reporter’s passport.

4. Within 3 working days after receiving a dossier of request, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall complete the grant, re-grant or extension of a foreign reporter card. In case of refusal, it shall issue a written reply to the foreign reporter.

5. When carrying out information and journalistic activities in Vietnam, a resident reporter shall bring along his/her foreign reporter card and passport and produce them to Vietnamese functional agencies upon request.

6. When a resident reporter terminates his/her activities in Vietnam, the resident office shall notify such in writing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at least 15 working days before such termination and return the foreign reporter card to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the reporter exits Vietnam.

Article 13. Information and journalistic activities of resident reporters

1. For a request to interview a high-ranking Vietnamese official, a resident office shall send a dossier of request directly, by post or via fax to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2. For a request to contact or interview a leader of a Vietnamese ministry, department or sector, a resident office shall send a dossier of request directly, by post or via fax to the concerned ministry, department or sector and concurrently notify such to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Within 5 working days after receiving a dossier of request, the concerned ministry, department or sector shall issue a written reply to the resident office.

3. For a request to carry out information and journalistic activities in a locality in Vietnam, a resident office shall send a dossier of request directly, by post or via fax to the concerned provincial-level People’s Committee and concurrently notify such to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Within 5 working days after receiving a dossier of request, the concerned provincial-level People’s Committee shall issue a written reply to the resident office. A resident reporter may carry out information and journalistic activities in a locality only after obtaining written approval of the provincial-level People’s Committee of that locality.

4. A dossier of request for information and journalistic activities comprises:

a/ A written request for information and journalistic activities, made according to a form provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

b/ A photocopy of the resident reporter’s foreign reporter card.

Article 14. Press assistants of resident offices

1. A resident office may hire a press assistant to assist its operation and resident reporters. A resident office wishing to hire a press assistant shall send a dossier directly or by post to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Within 15 working days after receiving a dossier of request, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall issue a written reply to the resident office.

A dossier of request for licensing a press assistant comprises:

a/ A written request for licensing a press assistant, made by the resident office chief according to a form provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

b/ Personal information of the proposed press assistant, which is certified by the local administration.

c/ Two 3cm x 4cm photos of the proposed press assistant.

2. A press assistant may perform jobs to assist information and journalistic activities of resident reporters and the resident office such as photography, filming, interpretation and administrative work to support the operation of the resident office. A press assistant may neither enjoy the resident reporter regime nor carry out information and journalistic activities for resident reporters.

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the agency supplying press assistants for resident offices. The recruitment, employment and management of press assistants must comply with the current provisions of Vietnamese law.

Article 15. Collaborators of resident offices

1. A resident office wishing to hire a collaborator shall send a dossier of request directly or by post to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Within 15 working days after receiving a dossier of request, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall issue a written reply to a resident office.

A dossier of request for licensing a collaborator comprises:

a/ A written request for licensing a collaborator of a resident office, made by the resident office chief according to a form provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

b/ Personal information of the proposed collaborator.

c/ One 3cm x 4cm photo of the proposed collaborator.

2. A resident office may hire and employ a collaborator only after obtaining written approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A collaborator of a resident office may only perform jobs to assist information and journalistic activities of resident reporters and the resident office such as filming, photography and interpretation in certain activities for a certain time and may not replace resident reporters.

3. In case a collaborator is the spouse of a member of a foreign representative agency and is entitled to diplomatic and consular privileges and immunities, that foreign representative agency must officially make a written commitment to renounce such privileges and immunities.

Section 3

IMPORT-EXPORT OF MEANS AND EQUIPMENT OF THE FOREIGN PRESS

Article 16. Import-export of means and equipment of the foreign press

1. Foreign press agencies may conduct duty-free temporary import for re-export for a definite time of equipment necessary for their information and journalistic activities in Vietnam such as camera, video camera, tape recorder and other equipment in accordance with the current provisions of Vietnamese law.

2. Foreign press agencies may import, export, install and use via-satellite transceivers of news and images; and devices transmitting images abroad via the national telecommunications network in accordance with the current provisions of Vietnamese law.

Chapter III

INFORMATION AND JOURNALISTIC ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVE AGENCIES AND FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS IN VIETNAM

Article 17. Publishing and circulation of foreign information publications

1. The publishing and circulation of foreign information publications comply with the Press Law, the Publication Law and related laws of Vietnam.

2. A foreign representative agency or foreign organization wishing to publish and circulate an information publication in Vietnam shall send a written request to the Ministry of Information and Communications. A foreign representative agency shall concurrently send such request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information.

3. Procedures for licensing the publishing and circulation of foreign information publications comply with regulations of the Ministry of Information and Communications. The activities provided in this Article and changes from those originally requested may only be carried out after obtaining written approval of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Article 18. Press conferences

1. A foreign representative agency or foreign organization wishing to hold a press conference in Hanoi shall send a written request to the Ministry of Information and Communications at least 2 working days before holding that conference. A foreign representative agency shall concurrently send such request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information.

2. A foreign representative agency or foreign organization wishing to hold a press conference in another locality shall send a written request to the concerned provincial-level People’s Committee at least 2 working days before holding that conference.

3. A press conference by a foreign delegation on visit to Vietnam at the invitation of a leader of the Party or the State or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be held according to the delegation’s official program. The agency in charge of meeting the delegation shall notify the Ministry of Information and Communications at least 1 working day before holding the press conference for coordination.

4. For a press conference by a foreign delegation on visit to Vietnam at the invitation of a ministry, department, locality or another state agency of Vietnam, the agency in charge of meeting the delegation shall send a written request to the Ministry of Information and Communications or a provincial-level People’s Committee at least 2 working days before holding the press conference.

5. Procedures for licensing press conferences comply with regulations of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

6. The Ministry of Information and Communications or a provincial-level People’s Committee may disapprove or suspend a press conference if detecting signs of violation of Vietnamese law.

7. For urgent press conferences, after receiving requests from foreign representative agencies or foreign organizations, Vietnamese functional agencies shall consider them on a case-by-case basis.

Article 19. Publishing news, articles and speeches in the Vietnamese mass media

1. A foreign representative agency or foreign organization wishing to publish a news, an article or a speech in the central mass media shall send a written request together with that news, article or speech to the Ministry of Information and Communications. Such request should clearly state the purpose, contents and name of the speaker/writer and the expected publishing or broadcasting press agency. A foreign representative agency shall concurrently send that request together with the news, article or speech to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information.

2. A foreign representative agency or foreign organization wishing to publish a news, an article or a speech in the mass media of a locality shall send a written request together with that news, article or speech to the concerned provincial-level People’s Committee. Such request should clearly state the purpose, contents and name of the speaker/writer and the expected publishing or broadcasting press agency.

3. Procedures for licensing the publication of news, articles and speeches in the mass media comply with regulations of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Article 20. Display of paintings, photos and other forms of information outside offices of foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations

1. A Hanoi-based foreign representative agency or foreign organization wishing to display paintings, photos and other forms of information outside its office shall send a written request to the Ministry of Information and Communications. A foreign representative agency shall concurrently send such request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information.

A foreign representative agency or foreign organization based in another locality that wishes to display paintings, photos and other forms of information outside its office shall send a written request to the concerned provincial-level People’s Committee.

2. Procedures for licensing the display of paintings, photos and other forms of information comply with regulations of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

3. The activities provided in this Article and changes from those originally requested may be carried out only after obtaining written approval of the Ministry of Information and Communications or provincial-level People’s Committees.

Article 21. Placement of panels, posters and screens outside offices of foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations; film shows, exhibitions and other promotion events attended by Vietnamese citizens

1. A Hanoi-based foreign representative agency or foreign organization wishing to place panels, posters or screens outside its office or to show a film or organize an exhibition or another promotion event in Hanoi to which Vietnamese citizens are invited shall send a written request to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. A foreign representative agency shall concurrently send such request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for information.

When wishing to carry out the above activities in another locality, a foreign representative agency or foreign organization shall send a written request to the concerned provincial-level People’s Committee.

2. Procedures for licensing the placement of panels, posters and screens and film shows, exhibitions and other promotion events comply with regulations of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

3. The activities provided in this Article and changes from those originally requested may be carried out only after obtaining written approval of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism or provincial-level People’s Committees.

Chapter IV

STATE MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION AND JOURNALISTIC ACTIVITIES IN VIETNAM

Article 22. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. To manage and license information and journalistic activities of the foreign press, covering:

a/ Licensing foreign reporters to carry out information and journalistic activities in Vietnam;

b/ Licensing foreign press agencies to open resident offices in Vietnam and employ foreign reporters, press assistants and collaborators;

c/ Managing information and journalistic activities of foreign reporters and resident offices;

d/ Coordinating with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees in settling requests related to professional and technical operations; import and export of professional and technical equipment and means; entry, exit, residence and travel; and supply of press assistants for resident offices; and other requests to serve information and journalistic activities of the foreign press in Vietnam.

2. To coordinate with the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in settling requests related to information and journalistic activities of foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations in Vietnam.

3. To guide the implementation of regulations on information and journalistic activities of the foreign press within its competence.

4. To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees in, annually reviewing and reporting on the implementation of regulations on information and journalistic activities of the foreign press within its competence.

Article 23. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Information and Communications

1. To manage and license information and journalistic activities of foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations, covering:

a/ Publishing and circulation of foreign information publications;

b/ Foreign press conferences in Vietnam;

c/ Publishing of news, articles and speeches in the Vietnamese mass media.

d/ Display of paintings, photos and other forms of information outside offices of foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations in Hanoi.

2. To guide the implementation of regulations on information and journalistic activities of foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations within its competence.

3. To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees in, annually reviewing and reporting on the implementation of regulations on information and journalistic activities of foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations within its competence.

Article 24. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

1. To manage and license the placement of panels, posters and screens outside the offices of foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations in Hanoi; and film shows, exhibitions and other promotion events in Hanoi to which Vietnamese citizens are invited, of foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations.

2. To guide the implementation of regulations on information and journalistic activities of foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations within its competence.

3. To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees in, annually reviewing and reporting on the implementation of regulations on information and journalistic activities of foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations within its competence.

Article 25. Responsibilities of provincial-level People’s Committees

Provincial-level People’s Committees shall receive, consider and settle matters related to information and journalistic activities of foreign reporters, foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations in their localities; and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in managing information and journalistic activities of the foreign press, foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations in their localities and handling their violations.

Article 26. Responsibilities of ministries, ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies

Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies shall coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in managing information and journalistic activities of the foreign press, foreign representative agencies and foreign organizations in their localities and handling their violations.

Article 27. Effect

1. This Decree takes effect on December 20, 2012.

2. This Decree replaces the Government’s Decree No. 67/CP of October 31, 1996, promulgating the Regulation on information and journalistic activities of foreign reporters and foreign agencies and organizations in Vietnam.

3. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall implement this Decree.